Barely 5 percent of the 5,000 tons of plastic that Ghanaians discard each day makes it to recycling facilities. The rest winds up in landfills, illegal dumps, streets, and waterways, or is burned in open pits, poisoning the air. In a small nation like Ghana, where only 23 percent of roads are presently paved, waste plastic could go a long way in building better roads.

In an ambitious plan announced by President Akufo-Addo in 2018 the city of Accra will recover plastic waste to use in place of crude oil binders in concrete for roadways. It calls for Ghanaians to strive for a circular model, to recycle and reuse as much plastic waste as they produce each year — roughly 1.1 million tons — by 2030.

A growing number of studies say that roads containing waste plastic have the potential to perform as well or better than traditional roads. They can last longer, are stronger and more durable in respect to loads and rutting, can tolerate wide temperature swings, and are more resistant to water damage, cracking, and potholes.

CRISTINA ALDEHUELA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES